News India: Delhi-NCR Rains - All Delhi Schools Closed Today, 10 Flights Diverted to Other Locations

Red Alert Issued for Delhi-NCR Following Heavy Rains

Delhi-NCR received heavy rain on Wednesday evening, prompting the issuance of a red alert. The relentless downpour caused significant waterlogging and traffic disruptions throughout the city.


Impact on Traffic and Daily Life

Many key roads and low-lying areas in Delhi-NCR were submerged, severely affecting traffic movement and bringing normal life to a standstill. Long queues of vehicles were seen on major roads such as the Delhi-Noida Expressway and Mathura Road, as well as at critical locations like ITO, AIIMS, Pragati Maidan, Kashmere Gate, and Sarai Kale Khan. The heavy rain left commuters stranded for hours.


Flights Diverted

Due to the adverse weather conditions, ten flights were diverted from Delhi to other locations.

School Closures

In response to the prevailing weather situation, the Delhi government ordered the closure of all schools on Thursday. Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena directed officials to remain alert and address waterlogging issues, especially at coaching centres.


Severe Waterlogging and Tragic Incident

Areas such as Old Rajinder Nagar were severely affected, where three IAS aspirants tragically died due to flooding in their institute's basement. The area saw protests from a large number of students standing in thigh-deep water. The India Meteorological Department reported that the Pragati Maidan observatory in central Delhi recorded 112.5 mm of rain in just one hour, a figure close to a 'cloudburst', though no official confirmation has been made.

Rainfall Data

Salwan Station in Mayur Vihar, East Delhi, recorded 119.0 mm of rain from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm, while Gautam Buddha Nagar, where Noida is located, saw 118.5 mm of rain.


National Flash Flood Guidance

The National Flash Flood Guidance Bulletin included Delhi in its list of 'areas of concern'. Minister Atishi assured that the Municipal Corporation and other government agencies are working to address the situation. She also announced the closure of all government and private schools on Thursday due to the forecast of heavy rainfall.

Traffic Disruptions

Traffic police issued directions advising commuters to avoid certain roads due to disruptions caused by waterlogging. Affected areas included the carriageway from Moolchand towards Chirag Delhi, both carriageways on Anuvrat Marg, and the Outer Ring Road from Chirag Delhi towards Nehru Place. Other impacted locations included Syama Prasad Mukherjee Marg, Chatta Rail Chowk, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, and areas around ITO, RK Puram, Janpath, and Parliament Street.


Further Flight Diversions

From 7:30 to 8:00 pm, ten flights were diverted from Delhi Airport to other locations, with eight directed to Jaipur and two to Lucknow.

Widespread Waterlogging

Heavy rain submerged numerous roads, with stormwater drains overflowing in many locations. Affected areas included ITO, RK Puram, Janpath, Parliament Street, Karol Bagh, Nauroji Nagar, Pant Marg, and Mayur Vihar. In Noida, areas like Gaur City, Film City, and underpasses on the Delhi-Noida Expressway experienced significant waterlogging. Gurugram saw water accumulation on key roads at Subhash Nagar and Old Railway Road.

Structural Damage

In North Delhi's Sabzi Mandi area, a house collapsed, prompting a rescue operation. In another incident, a school wall collapsed in Daryaganj.

Weather Forecast

The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Delhi-NCR, predicting more heavy rain. Moderate to heavy rain is expected in the coming hours in Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, and Ghaziabad, with wind speeds forecasted at 30-50 km/h. Nearby areas such as Panipat, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Jind, Hisar, Karnal, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nuh, Rewari, Alwar, Narnaul, Palwal, Hodal, Hathin, Aligarh, Bulandshahr, and Mathura are also likely to experience showers. The rainy weather is expected to continue until August 5.